Search Climate Insights Directory
139 results
The Cool Way to Heat Homes
The report examines the opportunity to phase out residential central air conditioners in Canada in favor of heat pumps. It argues that because the two technologies are mechanically similar, a market transformation strategy could bypass significant adoption barriers. The authors project that installing heat pumps instead of central air conditioners from 2025 to 2035 would result in C$12.6 billion in net benefits, including C$10.4 billion in energy bill savings and a reduction of 19.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents. The document identifies barriers such as low consumer familiarity, high upfront costs, and emergency replacement cycles, and proposes implementation routes including national equipment mandates, building code updates, and upstream incentives for distributors.
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Document type: Report
NATURAL GAS IN AFRICA AMID A GLOBAL LOW-CARBON ENERGY TRANSITION
The report examines the impact of global decarbonisation on Africa's natural gas sector, distinguishing between existing and emerging producers. It argues that faster global transitions to net-zero emissions will reduce LNG demand and prices, creating 'external' climate transition risks that threaten the viability of future projects. The analysis suggests that domestic demand is an insufficient hedge against these risks due to regulated low prices and the increasing competitiveness of renewable energy. Emerging producers are identified as particularly vulnerable due to weaker sovereign credit ratings and the timing of their infrastructure investments.
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Document type: Report
The GDP Costs of Climate Change for Canada
The Canadian Climate Institute's research indicates that climate change acts as a continuous drag on Canada's GDP, with cumulative losses estimated at $25 billion by 2025 and potentially up to $103 billion by 2055. The study highlights that low-income households are disproportionately affected and that proactive adaptation can save $13-$15 for every dollar spent, potentially cutting climate costs in half.
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Document type: Research paper
Achieving Sustainable Food Systems in a Global Crisis: NIGERIA
Nigeria is not on track to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, with poverty and hunger projected to rise without significant intervention. The report identifies a massive financing gap, estimating that an additional USD 4.9 billion in annual public investment is required from 2023 to 2030 to achieve a sustainable food system transformation. This includes USD 2.3 billion from external donors and USD 2.6 billion from domestic resources. Key priorities include increasing agricultural productivity, integrating climate resilience, and transitioning to healthier diets through nutrition education and social protection. The report highlights a critical underfunding of long-term agricultural investments compared to short-term emergency food assistance.
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Document type: Report
DUE NORTH: Facing the costs of climate change for Northern infrastructure
Northern Canada faces a double threat of inadequate existing infrastructure and a climate warming three times faster than the global average. Permafrost thaw is causing runways to warp, roads to collapse, and building foundations to crack. The report finds that while incremental adaptations like thermosyphons and embankment cooling can reduce costs, transformative adaptations—such as relocating infrastructure or leapfrogging to new technologies—are necessary for long-term resilience. The analysis highlights a significant 'infrastructure gap' rooted in colonial history, where many communities lack basic services like piped water and broadband internet, exacerbating the vulnerability of Indigenous Peoples.
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Document type: Report
CUTTING BILLS AND CREATING JOBS: THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES OF A CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION
The report argues that an accelerated clean energy transition is economically beneficial, reducing household energy bills, creating jobs, and increasing GDP growth compared to business-as-usual scenarios. It outlines specific policy levers—such as decarbonizing power systems by 2035/2040 and phasing out coal—that can drive these gains. Modelling shows significant per capita energy savings in G7 nations and substantial job creation in developing economies like India and Indonesia.
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Document type: Executive summary
Country Diagnostic Report: MALAWI
The report identifies a high prevalence of extreme poverty (69%) and undernourishment (19%) in Malawi, driven by the vulnerability of smallholder farmers to crop failure and climate shocks. Projections to 2030 suggest that while chronic hunger may decrease, poverty will remain extremely high, and agricultural GHG emissions—particularly from livestock—are expected to rise by 4.4% annually. The Malawian diet is heavily reliant on maize, leading to significant micronutrient deficiencies and a lack of dietary diversity, especially in low-income households. The document notes the absence of a national definition for a 'healthy diet' and highlights the critical role of Official Development Assistance (ODA), with USD 360 million disbursed annually (2014–2018) to food system projects. Climate change impacts, including increased floods and droughts, are exacerbating food insecurity, prompting the government to implement adaptation strategies such as crop diversification and climate-smart agriculture.
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Document type: Report
Country Diagnostic Report: NIGERIA
The report examines Nigeria's food systems, highlighting a projected increase in chronic hunger and extreme poverty by 2030. It identifies livestock as the primary source of agricultural GHG emissions and notes significant climate vulnerabilities, particularly for rice yields. The analysis reveals a stark dietary divide between income groups, with wealthier households consuming more animal-based proteins. While national dietary guidelines and climate policies exist, the report finds a substantial gap in Official Development Assistance (ODA) required to meet SDG 2 targets.
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Document type: Report
Country Diagnostic Report: ETHIOPIA
The report assesses Ethiopia's progress toward healthy and sustainable food systems, highlighting a projected decrease in extreme poverty and undernourishment by 2030 alongside a significant increase in livestock-driven GHG emissions. It examines the country's vulnerability to drought, the role of climate-smart agriculture in improving dietary diversity, and the influence of Official Development Assistance (ODA), with the United States as the primary donor. The document also details the development of national dietary guidelines and analyzes household consumption patterns, noting that wealthier households have higher dietary diversity and meat consumption.
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Document type: Report
2030 Emissions Reduction Plan
The Canadian Climate Institute concludes that Canada's 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan is credible and capable of delivering deep emissions reductions, putting the country on a path to meet its 2026 targets and nearly meeting its 2030 milestone. However, the assessment warns that success depends entirely on the timely execution of a complex policy package, with at least 43 per cent of reductions coming from policies that are announced but not yet developed. Five critical policies—carbon pricing, the oil and gas cap, the Clean Electricity Standard, the Clean Fuel Standard, and land-use reductions—are identified as accounting for 62 per cent of the total reductions needed by 2030.
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Document type: Report
Transition risks for Argentina’s agricultural sector
The report examines the tension between Argentina's agri-export model and its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, noting that the agricultural sector accounts for 37% of national greenhouse gas emissions. While domestic stakeholders perceive low risk from GHG mitigation commitments, the study warns that an EU carbon tariff on agricultural imports would significantly decrease the competitiveness of Argentine soybean derivatives and bovine meat, leading to adverse impacts on GDP and employment.
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Document type: Research paper
Assessment of new coal generation capacity targets in South Africa’s 2019 Integrated Resource Plan for Electricity
The report finds that new coal capacity in the IRP 2019 is unnecessary for energy security, more expensive than renewable alternatives, and incompatible with the Paris Agreement. Modelling shows that forcing 1.5 GW of new coal into the system increases total discounted power system costs by R23 billion in a reference scenario and up to R109 billion in a climate policy scenario. Furthermore, the study argues that a high-renewable pathway creates more jobs and supports higher GDP growth than a coal-dominated future.
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Document type: Report
Designing a Basic Income Guarantee
The document examines the trade-offs between universal and targeted Basic Income Guarantees (BIG) for South Africans aged 18-59. It argues that targeting creates administrative burdens, high exclusion errors, and social stigma, whereas a Universal Basic Income Guarantee (UBIG) ensures broader coverage and social cohesion. The brief contends that a UBIG is fiscally feasible through progressive taxation, such as a Social Security Tax, and provides superior poverty reduction by allowing households to pool resources. It specifically critiques the use of employment status or household-level targeting, noting that the latter can exacerbate gender inequalities. The brief recommends a universal BIG as the most efficient path to economic recovery and social stability.
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Document type: Policy brief
Assessment of new coal generation capacity targets in South Africa’s 2019 Integrated Resource Plan for Electricity
The study finds that new coal generation is unnecessary for energy security, more expensive than renewable alternatives, and incompatible with the Paris Agreement. Modelling shows that forcing 1.5 GW of new coal into the power system increases total discounted costs by R23 billion in a reference scenario and R109 billion in a climate policy scenario, while reducing GDP and employment.
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Document type: Research paper
a Just Recovery renewable Energy Plan for africa
The document proposes a 'Just Recovery Renewable Energy Plan for Africa' aiming for 100% renewable energy by 2050. Based on modelling by Dr. Sven Teske, it argues that this transition is technically and financially feasible, requiring an annual investment of approximately US$130 billion. The plan emphasizes energy sovereignty, decentralization, and a just transition for workers, projecting the creation of 7 million jobs by 2050. It identifies key funding sources including the cancellation of African debt, the elimination of illicit financial flows, and the fulfillment of climate finance obligations by developed nations.
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Document type: Report
In Search of Prosperity
The report concludes that Alberta's oil sector faces a bleak long-term outlook due to technological shifts, climate action, and market volatility. It argues that the sector will become a diminishing contributor to provincial prosperity, making economic diversification imperative. Modelling shows that price volatility has a more severe negative impact on GDP, employment, and royalties than consistently low prices. The authors recommend that oil for combustion should not be a target of industrial policy and that the transition for workers and communities must be managed immediately.
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Document type: Executive summary
In Search of Prosperity
The report argues that while the oil sector has historically driven Alberta's economy, its long-term outlook is bleak due to the rise of electric vehicles, global climate action, and price volatility. It recommends that the government shift industrial policy support away from combustible hydrocarbons toward economic diversification and managed transitions for workers.
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Document type: Report
Introducing a Universal Basic Income Guarantee for South Africa
The Institute for Economic Justice proposes a Universal Basic Income Guarantee (UBIG) for South African adults aged 18-59 to address widespread hunger and job losses. The brief argues that a universal, unconditional grant is superior to targeted measures due to administrative ease and broader reach. It suggests starting with a grant at the food poverty line (R585 per month), funded by R158 billion in progressive tax increases, including a Social Security Tax and the elimination of certain tax credits. In the medium term, the document recommends a wealth tax to increase the grant to lower-bound (R840) or upper-bound (R1,268) poverty lines. Immediate recommendations include extending and increasing the COVID-19 social relief grant and incorporating caregivers.
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Document type: Policy brief
Achieving Economies of Scale in the Nigerian Solar Value Chain
The report argues that achieving economies of scale in Nigeria's solar sector requires a transition from accelerated importation to local assembly and eventually local manufacturing. It identifies that approximately 7 million Nigerian households are ready for immediate solar home system (SHS) deployment based on geospatial data. The analysis demonstrates that combining four key enablers—import tariff waivers, reduced cost of debt, increased plant capacity, and product subsidies—could reduce SHS prices by 34% and increase the number of households able to afford these systems by 288%.
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Document type: Report
Scaling up climate finance in the context of Covid-19
The document argues that the financial system's current inertia and short-term bias prevent the redirection of private capital toward net-zero, climate-resilient economies. It emphasizes that limiting warming to 1.5°C is technically feasible but requires a dramatic scale-up of investment in energy, land, urban, and industrial systems. The report advocates for a dual approach of 'market fixing' (carbon pricing and risk disclosure) and 'market shaping' (de-risking and policy support) to overcome investment barriers. In the context of Covid-19, it highlights the risk of 'colourless' recovery packages entrenching fossil fuel dependence and proposes integrating NDCs into investment plans, alleviating debt through climate swaps, utilizing multi-sovereign guarantee funds, and expanding green bond markets to support developing nations.
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Document type: Report